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Fahrenberg, Wolfgang 'Wolf' (Grenadier-Reg. 426)

Date of birth:
September 26th, 1908 (Halle, Saale, Schiepzig/Saxony, Germany)
Date of death:
July 30th, 1971 (Höxter/North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany)
Nationality:
German (1933-1945, Third Reich)

Biography

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Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Awarded on:
June 7th, 1940
Eisernes Kreuz 1. Klasse
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
Oberleutnant der Reserve (1st Lieutenant of Reserves)
Unit:
Führer, I. Bataillon, Infanterie-Regiment 167, 86. Infanterie-Division
Awarded on:
June 8th, 1942
Deutsches Kreuz in Gold
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
Hauptmann (Captain)
Unit:
Führer, I. Bataillon, Grenadier-Regiment 426, 126. Infanterie-Division
Awarded on:
September 17th, 1944
On the 04.08.1944 the Soviets enveloped the extreme right wing of the 126. Infanterie-Division at Licagals and encircled those elements of the Grenadier-Regiment 426 located there. On the very same day a strong Kampfgruppe of the Regiment commanded by Hauptmann Fahrenberg fought its way to the trapped elements through dense forest terrain, however its escape route was closed off shortly after reaching the trapped units. Despite this the group was able to hold out and on the evening of the following day Hauptmann Fahrenberg and the other soldiers in the pocket managed to break out to the west while taking along all wounded men.

They had barely made it back when Fahrenberg’s Bataillon again came under heavy attack on the 06.08.1944, and was thrown into a major crisis. In response Fahrenberg led his Bataillon staff and parts of the 13./Grenadier-Regiment 426 into a counterattack that managed to fully restore the situation after a hard fight. In the process Hauptmann Fahrenberg would be badly wounded.

In recognition of these impressive feats of leadership, achieved in quick succession, Hauptmann Fahrenberg would receive the Knight’s Cross.
Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes

Sources

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